Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-07-14
MOLLIE'S ESCAPE.

MULLIEf > ESJA1 II.
A warm, lazy, July sun, ripping
breeze blowing up from the Hudson, a
cool veranda shaded by honeysuckles,
a hammock, novel, and n pipe, ali
combined to coax Guy Wallace out of
his mothers sitting-room and into the
| air.
The gate flew open and a young girl
came toward the house, flushed and
out of breath with running; laughing.
yet casting startled chances behind
her, and not in the least needing GUYS
terrier that came swapping after her
She looked very pretty, scudding
along, holding up the front of her
dress, and her little Marie Antoinette
slippers keeping up brisk trot under
its edge. She rounded the corner of
the house, and Guy heard the .,click!
clacki" of her heels as she went SPRING
ing up the front steps, and another
''clickl clack!' as she burst open the
sitting-room door and appeared before
his mother.
"Why, Mollie! what's the matterpp
exclaims Mrs. Wallace, surprised at
this sudden onslaught.
''Oh, there's nothing the matter!
Only I-well, there's somebody
home don't want to see, and SO ran
awaym
"Oh, that's it, is it?h
Yes. You see, saw him coming
from ever SO far off-so far, couldn't
tell him from his darky; but | didn't
think he was coming to see us. And
when | saw him drive in the gate |
| jumped out the back window and ran
over here"
why didn't you go down and see
him?'
''Oh, Couldn't" replies Mollie, in
an awe-strieken whisper. Hes per-
fectly horrid. told mamma never
would see him again that I'll GER
tainly run away And he'd no bust
ness to come, either! she adds, with a
sudden flash of baby-wrath. II told
him never to come again.
Good afternoon ladies'" saws GUY.
stepping out of the sitting-room, neat
and complete in white coat and blue
neck-tie. Molic bows and stammers.
but Mrs. Wallace tries to look severe.
Soon Guy proposes game of cro-
quet.
All adjourn to the lawn, where the
field is laid out, partly screened from
the house by line of eycrgrccns and
shrubbery and shaded by two great
elm trees and Il rockmaple.
Guy picks up the malletS from the
grass, where they lie scattered, and
hands them to the ladies, who merrily
join i'll the int, resting game.
Carriage wheels. | declarer ex-
claims Mrs. Wallace, in disgust. Il
was in hopes no one else would call to-
day Do come and help me. Mollie. f"
"Oh, can't!' breathes Mollic, fear
fully peeping at the carriage from be-
hind tall lilac bush. ''Its his mother
and sister, and | can't bear them;
they're almost rs horrid rs he is!'
"Oh, it's Phil Sadlcr, is itP' cries
Guy.
Mollic colors furiously and turns
away.
"You'rd very mean! l shall go
right home"
You can't" teasingly; hes there
still. Don't you see his Mig trotting
the horses up and down.
NO; You stay here, Mollie, and
play with Guy till come back. They
won't stay long soon send EN-
flyingr
Mrs. Wallace shakes a fist at the
carriage and departs.
''You first, Mollie," says her adyer-
sary; and while the balls 80 skimming
round the field after each other, he
adds straw or two to her burden.
you know, Molie, if its Phil Sadler
You might as well give up at once"
Miss Averill has sent her ball sliding
through the center wicket and now
fires 1T his and misses it; then she
looks up, troubled and surprised.
What do you mean.
Guy hits her ball and starts on a
long run.
'.Why, YOU see, Mollie-take care,
you are right in the way Of my wicket!
he's one of those fellows that was a
scratch,-one of those fellows who,
when they've made up their minds to
thing, never give it up. There, I'm
through! He'll certainly get You in
the end, Mollie; its only question of
time"
Miss Averill plays and then stands
gulping, while her brown eyes fill with
tears.
"But what can | DOE" she asked,
piteously.
There's only one thing that / can
think Of There. said so! There
your father bringing Phil over to find
you
'Oh. dear? | must run out the
frost gate."
You cant; if you stir from behind
these bushes they'll be down on YOU
There's no way ont of it except to
marry some other fellow"
The girl colors painfully.
Guy, don't be SO absurd? OF
course | can't do that Oh, dear,
they'll be here in minute!"
''Stay behind these bushes and talk
low and they won't hear us. All! why
can't you do that, Mollie?"
"Click! clack" goes the garden
gate, and Miss Averill peeps appre-
hensively between the leaves.
why, of course | can't, | wouldn't
like to. And then, besides that, l
don't know anybody who'd like to,
either" says she.
"Well, I'll tell you what" says her
companion, airily; suppose you marry
me?'
She flashes around at him a look of
surprise and fright from her wide
brown eyes and is about to flee; but
his tone suddenly changes and he holds
fast her plump little hand.
Don't run, Mollie," he whispers;
you'll 90 right into Pills arms if you
do. No, don't go the other way, either
there's Mrs. Sadler just coming out